Electric motor servo mechanism



June 6, 1950 L. s. WILLIAMS ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVO MECHANISM Filed Sept. 27, 1946 llullllllll E50 39 W, WVVVV Zg I INVENTOR.

Lawrence 5. WWW/am:

Patented June 6, 1950 STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC MOTOR SERVO MECHANISM Lawrence S. Williams, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Toledo Scale Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,776

UNITED 3 Claims.

1 This invention relates to servomechanisms and in particular 'a simple switching "method for modulating the torque developed by an electric motor according to the force or load that the The invention consists in a servomechani'sm including an electric motor for maintaining synchronism between a signal and a load While supplying power to the load, the servomecha'nism inmotor must o ercome, 5 eluding a pair of contacts that are cyclically op- One of the problems encountered in the deerated for determining lack of synchronis'm and sign of any servom'ech'anism is that of securing for supplying power pulses to the motor which adequate stability under all conditions of use. p w pu s are prbportioh'ed in duration to the Stated in other words, the driving motor supplylack of synchronism that is to be corrected by ing the power to move a load shall not drive the the motor. load beyond the position determined by the input Examples of servom''chanisms embodying the signal or controllin'gdevice. In some applications invention are shown schematically in the acof servomechanisms it is permissible to allow the mp nyi r w motor to oscillate a few tlmes while positioning In t e dr w s? the load provided that the oscillations die out Fi ur I i a schema ic illustration of one form rapidly. In more exacting applications of servo- 0f e inventionmechanisms it is imperative that the motor shall Figure II is a schematic illustration showing a drive the load to but not beyond the position dem e plete method or control of a servotermined by the input signal, 1. e. that the system mechanism. shall be accurate, deadbeat and free of oscilla- These specifi fi ures and the a omp y tion. To achieve satisfactor operation of a description are intended merely to illustrate the servomechanism, particularlyif the load has coninv ion b not i p l m io on the siderable inertia, it is necessary to continuously cl scontrol the power input to the motor and to de- As illustrated in Figure I, an input or signal crease the power input in a more or less continushaft 1 is axially aligned with an output shaft ous manner as the motor approaches synchro- 2 that is connected through a spur gear 3 and nism with the input signal. a pinion 4 to a motor 5 supplying power to the The principal objectoi' this invention is to 'conoutput shaft 2 to keep it synchronized with the trol the operation of an electrically driven servoinput shaft l. The adjacent ends of the input mechanism by rapidly opening and closing the shaft 9 and the output shaft 2 are fitted with motor control circuits and varying the proportion crown gears 6 and 1 that mesh with a pinion B of closed to open time according to the torque rotatably journaled on an arm 9 which extends to be exerted by the motor. transversely from a hearing In carried on the Another object of the invention is to supply output shaft '2 between the crown gears 6 and 1. an electrically driven motor of a servomechanism The crown gears 6 and I and the pinion 8 form, with a retarding force that varies in generally in efiect, a differential mechanism in which the inverse proportion to the departure from 'synbearing an th m correspond t the chronism of the input signal and driven load and rier. If the input shaft l is turned clockwise to simultaneously supply the motor with interthrough a given angle and the output shaft 2 is mittent driving impulses whose duration is gen- 40 turned counterclockwise through a similar angle orally proportional to the diiference in synchrothe pinion 8 will rotate on its axis but its axis, nism between the-driven load and the input signal. the arm 9, will not be rotated in space around Another object 01 the invention is to control the output shaft 2. If, on the other hand, the the speed and torque of a shaded pole electric input shaft i is rotated while the output shaft 2 motor by supplying the field thereof with an elecis held stationary the pinion 8 will turn on its trical current having alternating and direct com axis and at the same time carry the arm 9 ponents and intermittently closing its shading through an angle that is equal to half the angle coil circuits to determine the direction of rotathrough which the input shaft I turned. In gen tion and the strength of the power impulses. eral, the rotation of the arm 9 around the axis or A still further object of the invention is to the shafts l and 2 is equal to half the difference provide a control system for an electrically drivof the angles through which the input shaft I on servomechanism which control system reacts and the output shaft 2 are turned and thus the mechanically on the input to the servomechaposition of the arm 9 may be used to indicate the nism so that the operation of the mechanism may condition of synchronism between the input and be ffelt at the input of the servomechanism. output shafts.

Power from an alternating current source connected to leads H and I2 is fed through a twopole disconnect switch l3 and leads l4 and I5 to the field of the motor 5. The motor 5 is of the conventional shaded pole variety in which a rotating magnetic field for driving a squirrel cage rotor is produced by the action of a single phase current in a driving coil and the flux retarding influence of shading coils embracing portions of the pole faces of the motor field. In the motor 5 two sets of wound shading coils are employed and the leads are brought out so that the direction of rotation of the motor may be selected by closing the circuit of one or the other of the shading coils. If both coils are simultaneously closed they neutralize each other and the motor stops. One lead from each of the shading coils is connected to a lead l6 that, through a flexible conductor I1, is connected to the arm 9. The other ends of the shading coil windings are connected to leads I8 and I9 which lead to leaf spring contacts 29 and 2|. The arm 9 is loosely held between the contacts 29 and 2| and is driven against one or the other of the contacts as soon as a lack of synchronism between the input shaft l and output shaft 2 occurs. The current that flows through the arm 9 and the engaged contact 29 or 2| and the shading coil connected thereto produces power impulses in the motor 5 that drive the output shaft 2 in a direction to synchronize it with the input shaft and in so doing .move the arm 9 away from the engaged contact.

If no further control is employed with the motor the system hunts badly because the motor is fully energized as long as the arm 9 is in contact with either of the contacts 29 or 2| and the momentum accumulated by the motor during this time interval causes it to overrun and drive the arm 9 against the other contact to stop and reverse the motor. However, the second contact is still closed when the motor stops and the motor starts up again in the opposite direction and drives the arm 9 away from the second contact and against the first. Under most conditions this rapid reversing continues indefinitely unless the contacts are separated far enough to permit the frictional load on the motor to stop'it with the arm 9 between the contacts.

This condition may be remedied by imparting a vibratory motion to the contacts 29 and 2| so that the power to the motor is gradually reduced as synchronism between the input shaft and the output shaft 2 is approached. One method of securing this result is to interpose an elliptical cam 22 between the spring contacts 29 and 2| and rotating the cam 22 with a constant speed motor 23. The cam 22 may be driven either at motor speed or at a submultiple of that speed depending upon the speed of response required in the servomechanism. It is also desirable that the motor 23 be of the synchronous type so that the opening and closing of the contacts 29 or 2| may be properly phased with respect to the field excitation of the shaded pole motor 5. This phasing is desirable because the currents that flow in the shading coils are induced by transformer action from the current in the field coil of the motor. Therefore, to secure maximum current flow in the shading coil the contact must be closed at the same time that voltage is generated in the shading coil. 6

The movement of the leaf contacts 29 and 2| by the action of the cam 22 causes the duration of contact between the arm 9 and either of the contacts to vary according to the position of the arm 9. Thus, if a large error exists the arm 9 may deflect the engaged contact to such an extent that the cam 22 no longer acts on that spring leaf and the contact is consequently continuously closed. In this event the motor is fully energized and operates at maximum power or speed as may be required to drive the output shaft 2. As synchronism is approached and the arm 9 approaches a neutral position the contact is intermittently closed and the torque of the motor is reduced. If the load has sufficient friction in comparison with its inertia, this type of control is satisfactory because the motor speed will be reduced by the friction as soon as the power input to the motor is reduced.

If the load has a large inertia component in comparison to its friction the inertia of the load causes the servomechanism illustrated in Figure I to overrun and to hunt. To overcome this the motor must be supplied with a braking torque that preferably is generally inversely proportional to the lack of synchronism between the input shaft and the output shaft. This braking torque may be secured by anyof several methods. A simple method is illustrated in Figure II.

In this example an input or signal shaft 24 is shown in alignment with an output shaft 25 which is driven through gears 26 and 21 from a shaded pole induction motor 28. A differential mechanism comprising crown gears 29 and 39, a pinion 3| meshing with the crown gears and a carrier or arm 32 journaling the pinion 3| serves to indicate the synchronism or lack of synchronism between the input or signal shaft 24 and the output shaft 25. The main field of the motor is energized from an alternating current power source connected to lines 33 and 34 which through a double pole disconnect switch 35 are connected to leads 36 and 31. The lead 36 is connected directly to the motor 28, while the lead 31 is connected through a parallel arrangement of a half wave rectifier 38, an adjustable resistance 39, and a pressure sensitive resistor 49 to a lead 4| connected to the main field of the motor 28.

The common connection between the shading coils of the motor is brought out to a lead 42 which through a flexible connection 43 is electrically connected to the arm 32. The other ends of the shading coils are connected through leads 44 and 45 to spring leaf contacts 46 and 41 that engage opposite sides of the arm 32 and limit its travel in response to lack of synchronism between the input shaft 24 and the output shaft 25. The

spring leaf contacts 46 and 41 are vibrated by an elliptical cam 49 driven by a synchronous motor 49. The cam 48 may be driven either at motor speed or at some submultiple of that speed. As in the preceding example the vibration of the spring leaf contacts 46 and 41 serves to modulate the power impulses of the motor according to the lack of synchronism between the input and output shafts.

The pressure sensitive resistor 49 consists of a series of carbon disks 59 that are loosely held in an insulating C-shaped clamp 5|. If no external force is applied to the disks their resistance to current flow is high. An insulated C-shaped arm 52 connected through a link 53 to the arm 32 em- 52 may be made equal to the opening of the 0- shaped clamp 5| if the resistor is to be sensitive to small movements of the arm 32. If it is desirable to have a dead zone the opening of the C- shaped bracket .52 may be made greater than the opening of the clamp 51 so that some movement of the arm 32 is required before the carbon disks 5B are compressed.

The half-wave rectifier 38 connected between the leads 3! and 4| causes the motor '28 to be energized with a'rielectrical current that has both alternating and direct components. The alternating components in combination with the shading coils produce a rotating-magnetic field serving to drive the rotor. The direct current component generates a braking torque in the motor that serves to govern the speed of the motor and to stop the motor quickly when the alternating current component is discontinued. When the rectifier is acting alone and not partially bypassed by the pressure sensitive resistor 60 while one of the shading coil circuits is continuously closed, the motor operates at approximately 5 per cent of its normal speed. When the pressure sensitive resistor 40 is connected parallel to the rectifier and pressure is applied to it to increase its conductance it by-passes current around the rectifier and by thus increasing the ratio of alternating to direct current in the motor increases the speed of the motor and decreases the braking eifect. The adjustable resistor 39 connected in parallel with the rectifier 38 and the pressure sensitive resistor 46 permits the minimum speed and the braking torque of the motor to be adjusted according to the load being driven.

In each of these examples the torque developed by the motor is generally proportional to the duration of contact of the leaf springs and in the second example to the pressure applied to the pressure sensitive resistor 40. Since the output shafts 2 or 25 are connected to the motors 5 or 28, respectively and to the load being driven they may be considered as fixed insofar as the force required to operate the spring contacts is concerned. Thus the input shafts I or 24 must supply suflicient torque to drive the diiferential arms 9 or 32 against the contact springs and, in the case of the arm 32, against the pressure sensitive resistor 46. Since this required force is generally proportional to the torque of the motor the operation of the servomechanism may be felt by the resistance to movement of the input shaft. In many applications this feedback of force is desirable because it qualitatively gives the feel of a direct acting manual control without requiring the operator to supply the load driving force. The force multiplication or magnification accomplished in the servomechanism may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the stiffness of the leaf spring contacts or the pressure characteristics of the pressure sensitive resistor 40 or both.

In some applications of the servomechanism, particularly where high sensitivity is required, it is necessary to use a counterweight 54 to balance the weight of the pinion 3| and the arm. 32. Alternatively, the pinion 3! may be journaled on the tail of the arm 32 So that it counterbalances the arm 32. If the arm 32 is balanced the only force required is that to overcome friction and the tension of the spring leafs contacts 46 and 47.

The vibration of the contacts serves another purpose, particularly when small forces are involved. The restoring spring effect of the contacts as aifecting the position of the diiferential arms is proportional to the spring tension and the duration of contact. This spring eifect may 76 be made very small without decreasing the pressure required to maintain good electrical contact by shortening the duration of contact. Furthermore, the continual motion of the contacts makes them self-cleaning. The phasing of the contacts may, under certain conditionsbe adjusted so that the contacts separate at the instant that the current flowing through them passes through zero. By breaking contact at a current zero the contacts may be separated without any sparking.

To secure maximum power impulses from the motor the shading coil circuits must be closed synchronously with the maximum of the alternating component of the exciting current. This means that the motor 49 must not only be synchronized as to speed but also synchronized as to phase.

This type of control may be applied to other motors such as split field universal, direct current, or repulsion besides the shaded pole variety. For example, a repulsion motor may have two sets of starting brushes, one set for each direction of rotation, and have intermittently operating contacts to short or connect together one or the other set of brushes. Since the torque in such a motor is determined by the flow of current through the connected brushes, the motor torque is controlled by varying the duration of contact.

Various modifications and arrangements of the motor control may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination, a motor having a first winding energized from a source of power, at least one auxiliary winding inductively energized from the first winding, said windings cooperating to produce a r0- tating magnetic field, a rectifier connected in series with the first field, a pressure sensitive resistance connected in parallel with the rectifier, and a pair of cyclically operating contacts in series with the auxiliary winding, said contacts being closed for a portion of each cycle that varies with the torque to be delivered by the motor, said pressure sensitive resistance being subjected to a pressure that varies as the speed to be developed by the motor.

2. In a device of the class described, in combination, a motor havin a first winding energized from an alternating current source of power, auxiliary windings inductively energized from the first winding, a pair of contacts movable toward and away from each other and connected in series with the auxiliary windings, means operating in synchronism with the alternating current source for vibrating said contacts, said means being synchronized so that the maximum deflection of the vibrated contact occurs in preselected phase relation with the alternating current source, and a member operatively connected to a device driven by the motor and electrically connected to the auxiliary windings interposed between the movable contacts for limiting the amplitude of vibration of the contacts and the amplitude of the current flow in the auxiliary windings according to the position of the member.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a member that is moved according to the error in position of a body, a motor for driving the body, said motor having a first winding energized from an alternating current source of power, a pair of auxiliary windings inductively energized from the first winding, leaf contacts cooperating with contacts on said member, means driven by the alternating current source for vi- REFERENCES CITED brating the leaf contacts, said means being syn- 2 chronized so that the maximum deflection of g gi gg i are of record m the the vibrated contacts occurs in preselected phase relation with the alternating current source, said 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS member being oriented to move in a direction to Number Name Date vary the amplitude of vibration of the vibrated 1,926,478 Erwin Sept. 12, 1933 contacts, whereby said contacts close for a period 2,106,030 Junkins Jan. 18, 1938 of time the beginning and end of which Vary 2,207,949 Smith July 16, 1940 symmetrically with respect to that phasing of 10 2,285,578 Gorrie June 19, 1942 the contacts at which the contacts are most ef- 2,389,382 Mikina Nov. 20, 1945 fective in controlling the motor. 2,390,547 McCoy Dec. 11, 1945 2,419,431 Williams Apr. 22, 1947 LAWRENCE S. WILLIAMS. 

